Left Masakaki featuring a sword

Right Masakaki featuring a Mirror and Magatama

Masakaki at Yasaka Shrine

Masakaki (Japanese: 真榊) is an object used in Shinto rituals.^[1][2][3] It is put on both sides of a table where the event takes place. Masakaki is made with branches of a tree called Sakaki. These branches are attached to the top of colorful cloth banners. The banners are in five colors - green, yellow, red, white, and blue.^[1][3]

They were mentioned in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki as implements used to get Amaterasu to leave the cave.^[3]

Special treasures are hung on these branches. On the left side, a sword is hung. On the right side, a mirror and a magatama are hung. The three of them symbolize the Imperial Regalia of Japan.^[1] Sometimes, people call the whole setup with a special name, Masakaki-dai. A masakaki offering involves donating two such Masakaki to a shrine or construction ceremony with the three treasures.^[2]

The five colors of the cloth stand for the five elements. These elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. At funerals, Masakaki with yellow and white banners is used.^[1]

In 2016, Shinzo Abe got controversy for making a Masakaki offering to Yasukuni Shrine.^[4] It was incorrectly reported as being an entire tree by some sources.^[2] In early 2023, Fumio Kishida ran into a similar controversy.^[5][6][7]

• Tamagushi

• Image of Masasaki
• Masakaki Archived 2007-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
• Masakaki installation example